SOULCON ChallengeSample

The CROSS

If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. Luke 9:23 (NKJV)

I want to take just a moment to make sure we are on the same page with this passage before we go forward. At the time when Jesus said this to His disciples the cross was a tool for public shame, suffering, justice for a crime and the end result being a slow painful death. The disciples didn’t know that Jesus was going to take that symbol and change the outcome of the cross forever. So it is imperative that we have a clear view of the cross that Jesus is telling us to pick up daily.

As believers in Jesus we now know the end result of the cross is victory, and a victory for humanity we could never obtain on our own. The cross reminds us of the horribly painful death Jesus went through for our sins. If any human could have lived a sinless life and poured out their blood on a cross for the forgiveness of our sins, then Jesus wouldn’t have had to come to this earth to die for us.

God knew for the human race to have forgiveness for their sins and experience true life on this earth and throughout eternity, Jesus’s innocent blood had to be shed on the cross for us. And Jesus went through the excruciating pain of the cross for the joy of having an eternal personal relationship with people like you and me. 

…Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Hebrews 12: 2b (NLT) 

Our King died in our place, and He is asking us to make the decision to pick up our cross and follow Him. What an incredible honor. The cross is our symbol of victory, our symbol from our Savior of what true love is, and our symbol that our Commander in Chief laid down His life for us. Just take a moment and think if a world leader made the decision to give their life for yours. Wouldn’t you live to bring honor to that person’s life? Absolutely! And that is why we count it an honor to pick up our cross and honor God by obeying Him and suffering for Him. 

The world cries for men who are strong; strong in conviction, strong to lead, to stand, to suffer. -Elisabeth Elliot 

When we make the decision to pick up our cross and follow Jesus we are showing God we are all in. We are showing Him we are willing to bring honor to Him and His Kingdom no matter what the cost. We are showing Him we desire to be special forces soldiers in His army.